Cannock Chase

Cannock Chase's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, marriage and housing tenure.

The population passed 97,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Cannock Chase increased by 5.8%, from just over 92,100 to 97,500.

The addition of just over 5,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cannock Chase was home to, on average, 8.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cannock Chase

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cannock Chase increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 16% of people in Cannock Chase are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Cannock Chase by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Cannock Chase residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.9% to 5.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Cannock Chase residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Cannock Chase increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cannock Chase, the West Midlands and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Cannock Chase

The number of people in Cannock Chase that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 10,000 in 2001 to just over 23,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 24% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Cannock Chase that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 74,000 in 2001 to about 67,000 in 2011 (from 81% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 6,600 to just over 5,900 (from 7.2% to 6.1%).

Just over 280 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 150 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population without a religion in Cannock Chase increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Cannock Chase by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Cannock Chase saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over in Cannock Chase said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 31%.

Across the region, only Worcester saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 51% to 45%).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 48%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Cannock Chase saw the West Midlands' joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside Wyre Forest.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) in Cannock Chase reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.5% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.8%.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Cannock Chase remained close to 3.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Cannock Chase by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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